West Alluvial Fan Trailhead
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
The Alluvial Fan is where a dam failure in 1982 tore down the mountain and left a boulder field with water running through it. The short walk here is easy enough for anyone, and the trail is fully accessible.
The Alluvial Fan sits off the road to Endovalley, and the west parking area is where this trailhead is. The NPS rebuilt the trail in 2020 and made it fully accessible, with a 56-foot bridge over the Roaring River. You get views of the Mummy Range and Horseshoe Falls, and the falls and cascades are the main event. The fan itself formed in 1982, when the Lawn Lake dam broke and sent a flood down the valley. It's a good short stop, and there are vault toilets at the west parking area. The elevation is about 8,610 feet.
This is the one I'd tell visitors to do in the fall, when the aspens in Endovalley turn. It's also a good option for anyone who can't do a big hike but still wants to feel like they've been somewhere. Keep an eye on the NPS site before you go, since the area has been closed to visitors for stretches in some years. Dogs can't come on the trail, and the rocks are slick near the water, so watch small kids.
